Litchfield Development Commission: Town's proposed zoning changes are a 'mistake'

LITCHFIELD >> The Economic Development Commission plans to craft a letter to the Board of Selectmen voicing its concerns over proposed changes to the zoning regulations.

These changes would require an applicant to seek special exception for commercial buildings of 10,000 square feet or more or a building with 12,000 square feet or more of gross floor area.

According to Litchfield.bz, "a special exception application requires an additional $250 fee and an extra public hearing before planning and zoning," and extends the time required to hold a public hearing.

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"I think it's a mistake," commission member William Conti said. "Generally I like special exceptions because it gets the town the ability sometimes to look at things. This one is overly broad, overly restrictive."

Conti called the proposal a "job-killer," and said that "it's just very difficult to do business that way."

Commission members noted that this proposal is an effort to try to accomplish controlled growth and maintain Litchfield's character, but that it may repel new businesses from building in Litchfield given how difficult the process would become.

"I think it's going to cost the town a fortune," commission member Judy Elliott said. "Every time there's an application. The process is expensive for the town."

Conti said that he's afraid that this will end up pricing Litchfield right out of the market, if it isn't already.

"People talk about over-regulation, I always say I don't see it that much on the federal level, where I see it is on the local level," Economic Development Commission chair David Dean said. "We need jobs. We need a tax base."

The commission voted that Dean send a letter to the Board of Selectmen reflecting the concerns voiced at the meeting.

"I've been thinking about it for a while and I think this is legitimate for us to comment on," Conti said. "We're not picking the winners and losers, we're just saying generally, this is a mistake."